Across-shift changes of exhaled nitric oxide and spirometric indices among cotton textile workers

Objectives: For the purpose of evaluation of exhaled NO as an index of airway inflammation, we assessed changes in fractional exhaled NO (FeNO) across a work shift and its relationship with respiratory complaints. Material and Methods: Chronic and work-aggravated respiratory complaints were assessed using a questionnaire in 89 male textile workers. FeNO and spirometry were performed before and after a work shift and all the changes were registered. Results: A significant increase in FeNO after a work shift was observed. Post-shift FeNO was significantly higher among the subjects with chronic respiratory complaints. There was an obvious decrease in FVC, and FEV₁ after a work shift; however, we couldn’t find a significant relationship between changes in respiratory parameters and concentration of inhalable dusts. Conclusions: FeNO increase after a work shift along with pulmonary function decrement and higher post-shift FeNO among subjects with respiratory complaints makes across-shift FeNO a non-invasive test for assessment of airway hyper-responsiveness in textile workers.